Clark and NatRoad both agree with the greater adoption of telematics in the transport industry, but want to see some changes made before the technology rolls out further
The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) says greater adoption of telematics could help the road transport industry meet the challenge of a growing freight task, but must be regulated fairly and transparently.
In a submission to a discussion paper about telematics, NatRoad has told the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) it has concerns about the need to keep law enforcement and data collection separate.
“There is no doubt that telematics has the potential to make operators lives easier by improving safety, efficiency and productivity,” NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says.
“In fact, NatRoad has partnered with Teletrac Navman to promote the adoption of telematics by members across Australia.
“We are generally opposed to the use of telematic data, collected under the provisions of the HVNL, for any purpose other than one clearly authorised under the HVNL.”
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Clark says this doesn’t include private arrangements that are lawfully and transparently done with the consent of all parties involved.
“But a lack of trust is currently a significant barrier to greater uptake of telematics,” Clark says.
“This impedes the significant advances in safety, efficiency and productivity that the widespread adoption could deliver.”
Clark says labour shortages and recent significant weather events made the national freight task more challenging than ever before.
“The challenge is to drive the uptake of telematics with regulation and enforcement of mass and dimension access conditions that is transparent and fair,” Clark says.